The Early Career Conference Award (ECCA) was established in 2007. The purpose of the award is to provide the opportunity for those at the start of their career to attend the SLA Annual Conference, and benefit from the networking opportunities that SLA and SLA Europe provide.

The historical winners of the ECCA award are listed below.

2018 – Baltimore

Eleanor Matthewson is co-sponsored by the Legal Division. Eleanor is a Legal and Business Research Officer at global law firm HFW. She has responsibility for the firm’s global information training programme, which includes organising and delivering training sessions and the creation and development of the library’s online training and guidance modules and documentation. Eleanor completed her MA at UCL before joining HFW in 2016 and has previously worked at Norton Rose Fulbright and Central Saint Martin’s.

Bethany Sherwood is co-sponsored by the Academic Division. Bethany is currently studying part-time for the Information Science MSc at City, University of London, and works as a Library Assistant at the English Faculty Library, University of Cambridge. Prior to this, Bethany read English Literature at Murray Edwards College, Cambridge, graduating in 2014.

2017 – Phoenix

Amy O’Donohoe is co-sponsored by the Academic Division. Amy is the Customer Care (Collections) Coordinator at Royal Holloway University, which combines two significant interests for her in the field: collection management and user engagement. She recently graduated from Robert Gordon University with an MSc in Library and Information Studies after studying via distance learning while working at the London Library and Hurstpierpoint College library respectively. Amy has a strong background in policy development, teaching, and raising awareness in the care system which has fed into her work as a librarian. Her dissertation considered the positive benefits that libraries can have on the life outcomes of care experienced young people.

Ruth MacMullen is co-sponsored by the Legal Division. Ruth is the Copyright & Licences Officer at York St John University. She completed her MA Information and Library Management in September 2012, and is currently studying for an LLM in Intellectual Property Law at The University of Edinburgh. Her professional interests include rights and reuse of copyright material, accessibility and access to information, and scholarly communications publishing and licensing. She is a member of the Libraries and Archives Copyright Alliance, and the Universities UK Copyright Working Group.

2016 – Philadelphia

Helen Monagle is co-sponsored by the Academic Division. Helen is a Serials Librarian at Manchester Metropolitan University. She successfully completed Chartership in July 2015 and graduated with a master’s degree in Library and Information Management from Manchester Metropolitan University. Helen’s interests include cataloguing, UX, facilitating access to e-resources, statistics and development opportunities for new professionals. She is one of the co-founders of NLPN, a network for new and aspiring library professionals.

Helen Doyle is co-sponsored by the Legal Division. Helen obtained her undergraduate degree in Classics from Cambridge University in 2008 before working as a graduate trainee at Lincoln’s Inn. She then received an MA in Librarianship and Information Studies from UCL in September 2011, whilst undertaking Library Assistant work at Inner Temple. She joined the Library and Information Services team at Norton Rose Fulbright as an Information Officer in March 2013. Helen also has an interest in cataloguing. She has been Treasurer of CILIP’s Catalogue & Index Group for three years and combined this with her interest in law at the 2015 BIALL conference, where she gave a paper on the latest cataloguing standards and their application to law libraries.

Matthias Ammon is co-sponsored by the Science-Technology Division and receives the Diane K. Foster Memorial Award. Matthias a Library Services Administrator in the Department of Engineering at the University of Cambridge, having previously worked in several other libraries across the University and as a school librarian. He is currently studying for an MA in Information and Library Studies via distance learning at Aberystwyth University.

2015 – Boston

Neasa McHale is the Library Assistant at Mason Hayes & Curran law firm. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English and History from St. Patrick’s College, Dublin City University and graduated with a master’s degree in Library and Information Studies from University College Dublin in 2013. Neasa was co-sponsored by the Legal Division.

Sarah Hume is a final year part-time student at University College London, studying for her MA in Library and Information Studies. She is a part time library assistant at the Geological Society of London and at the London Library, a contributing writer for Hack Library School, and Chair of CILIP’s National Student Committee. Sarah was co-sponsored by the Competitive Intelligence Divison.

2014 – Vancouver

Michelle Bond is a trainee faculty librarian at Liverpool Hope University with interests in information literacy teaching, reading and the use of social media in higher education. A recent graduate of the iSchool at the University of Sheffield, Michelle wrote her dissertation on recreational reading in academic libraries. Michelle is co-sponsored by the Academic Division.

Rosie Hare works in the E-Learning team as a Digital Facilitator at Middlesbrough College and is studying towards an MSc in Information and Library Studies via distance learning at Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen. Rosie is co-sponsored by the Leadership & Management Division.

Lindsay Robinson is the Acquisitions Librarian at the Bodleian Law Library, where she has worked in a variety of roles since joining as a Graduate Library Trainee in 2007. Lindsay was awarded an MSc in Library and Information Studies from City University in 2011. Lindsay is co-sponsored by the Legal Division (supported by Jones McClure Publishing)

2013 – San Diego

Penny Andrews is an activist, writer, performer (Radio 4, Glastonbury), musician (Radio 1, Latitude, Wireless), producer and gadget freak. She currently works as the Library Graduate Trainee at Leeds Metropolitan University. She is a Library Camp organiser, National Autistic Society Ambassador, and cerebral palsy sprinter. Penny was co-sponsored by the Leadership & Management Division.

Lizzie Caperon is a subject librarian at Leeds University involved in information literacy teaching, developing online tutorials, collection management and liaison with academic departments. Lizzie is also completing a Masters dissertation on mobile technologies in libraries. Lizzie was co-sponsored by the Pharmaceutical & Health Technology Division.

Lauren Lawler is the Assistant Knowledge Services Manager at A&L Goodbody Solicitors in Dublin. She holds a bachelor’s degree in English and a master’s degree in Library and Information Studies from University College Dublin, and a postgraduate diploma in Public Relations from the Fitzwilliam Institute. Lauren was co-sponsored by the Legal Division (supported by Jones McClure).

Laura Williams has worked as an information professional in the media sector since graduating from Sheffield University in 2011 with an MA in Librarianship. Laura worked in the media library at ITV as a Media Logistics Co-ordinator responsible for delivering programme content on tape across the organisation for broadcast. Laura was co-sponsored by the Business & Finance Division.

2012 – Chicago

Simon Barron graduated from Manchester Metropolitan University in 2010 with an MA in Library and Information Management. Following work for Nord Anglia Education as an Assistant Librarian at the Army Foundation College’s library for Junior Soldiers, Simon took up the role of E-resources Co-ordinator at Durham University Library. Simon was co-sponsored by the Science-Technology Division (the Diane K Foster International Student Travel Award)

Marie Cannon is currently enrolled on the MA Library and Information Studies course at University College London, and works as a Library Assistant at London Business School. Prior to this, Marie worked as a Graduate Library Assistant at Norton Rose LLP. Marie was co-sponsored by the Legal Division (supported by Jones McClure).

Ruth Jenkins is currently enrolled on the MA Librarianship course at the University of Sheffield, following a graduate traineeship at the Bodleian Social Science Library at the University of Oxford. Ruth has also worked as a library assistant in a public library and Devon School Library Service. Ruth was co-sponsored by the Business and Finance Division.

Giles Lloyd-Brown is a Senior Library Assistant at Cardiff University Health Library. He graduated from the University of Aberystwyth in 2012 with an MScEcon in Information and Library Studies, where his dissertation was on the influence of web 2.0 on academic library OPACs. Giles is currently undertaking CILIP Chartership. Giles was co-sponsored by the Pharmaceutical and Health Technology Division.

Sarah Wolfenden graduated from University College London with an MA in Library and Information Studies in 2008. Since then, she has worked as Higher Education Advisor at Kingston College, overseeing the running of the Higher Education Centre which caters for approximately 1800 students. Sarah was co-sponsored by the Leadership & Management Division.

2011 – Philadelphia

Chris Cooper is an Information Specialist at the Peninsula Technology Assessment Group, where he specialises in health technology assessments. Chris graduated from University College London in 2009 with an MA in Information Studies, and is currently undertaking a PhD at King’s College London. Chris was co-sponsored by the Pharmaceutical & Health Technology Division.

Natalia Madjarevic graduated from University College London in 2009 with an MA in Library and Information Studies. Prior to this, Natalia did a traineeship at The Guardian & The Observer Research and Information Department. She currently works at Queen Mary University of London as Information Assistant – Electronic Services. Natalia was co-sponsored by the Business & Finance Division.

Ned Potter works in the field of digitisation at the University of Leeds. Ned graduated from the University of Northumbria in 2009 with an MSc in Information and Library Management. Ned is professionally very active, and is the founder of the LIS New Professionals Network (LISNPN). Ned was co-sponsored by the Leadership & Management Division.

Samuel Wiggins is currently enrolled on the MA Librarianship course at the University of Sheffield, where he plans to write his dissertation on ‘the effect of pay-wall and changing business models on information management in legal firms’. Before starting his MA, Samuel was a graduate trainee at Norton Rose LLP. Samuel was co-sponsored by the Legal Division.